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EVANGELICAL  TRACT  SOCIEV  Wft   oon 


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HID  TREASURE. 


It  is  possible  that  you  may  have  lived  a  lung  lii- 
poverty,  while  yet  you  were  every  day  close  upon  im- 
mense riches.  It  is  possible  tint  you  may  have  walked 
over  the  field  where  treasure  lay  hid,  and  have  harden- 
ed the  ground  by  the  tread  of  your  feet,  without  being 
aware  that  you  were  at  the  very  door  of  wealth.  You 
may  have  been  within  reach  of  the  Sabbath  bell,  which 
said  "  Come,  come/'  La  your  ear,  inviting  you  to  the 
sanctuary  where  Christ  was  preached.;  you  .may  have 
even  sat  under  a  gospel  ministry;  and,  no  doubt,  you 
have  had  the  Bible  within  your  grasp — that  Bible  which 
afcs  every  one  ords  to  y 

There  is  a  parable  of  our  Lord's  which  mas  thus : — 
"  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  trea 
field,  the  which  -when  a  man 'hath  found,  h    hideth,  and, 
for  joy  thereof  goeth  \and  aelleth  <t/7  'that  he  hath,  and 
buyeth  Chat  field,  4    (Matt-  xiii.  4  >;. 

This  parable  may,  concern  you 
sinners.     U- shews  how  souls   get    the    treasure   of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  by  getting  ed  trith  the  K 

1,   2  ling    hi 

awakened,  sinner.     You  are  ft 

field  or  a  fan 
e,  and  diligently  s  t  cultivating* it.     Hish< 

ashishai 


Z  HID  TREASURE. 

no.  ricliea  but  what  may  come  to  him  from  the  produce 
of  th^flfcrcs,  if  well  wrought ;  ami  so  he  ploughs,.  • 
yowsTuarrows — attends,  in  short,  to.  every  process  in  it* 
season.  Qne  day,  while  thus  busy,  lo  !  his  plough  or  his 
harrow  strikes'  on  something  hard — a  large  flat  stone, 
which  is  somewhat  shoved  from  its  place.  As  he  is 
stooping  down  to  see  if  his  plough  has  got  no  injnry,  he 
espies  beneath  the  stone,  at  a  chink,  something  glitter- 
ing ;  and,  on  closer  inspection,  this  proves  to  be  silver!- 
gold !  lie  wonders,  and  stands  rapt  in  thought  a  while 
— a  ne^way  of  reaching  the  goal  of  riches  has  occurred 
to  him.  Without  waiting  for  the  produce  of  his  fields, 
th{g  trea&yre — this  unexpected,  untnought-of  treasure — ; 
become  his  wealth!  *;  Ah,  then,  *'  says  he,  'Met 
me.  <*et  the  field  as  my  own  !.    Oh,  if  it  were  altogether 

mine 

Here,  in  a  parable,  you  see  a  man  plodding  at  his 
worldly  calling,  day  by  day,  year  after '  year— rising 
early,  working  late.  He  thinks*"  I  would  be  happy  if 
omv  I  could  get  and  lay  by  so  much  money  !  *'  Up  to 
old  a^e  this  may  go  on — the  man  still  thinking  that 
happiness  is  to  be  reached^  what  his  trade  or  business 
brine's  in.  When  some  prosperous  season  come?,  how 
diligent!  how.  anxious !  how  persovcfcng  !  But  all  the 
while  he  thinks  not  that  there  is  bliss  of  another  sort  for 

Some  day,  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  this  very 
man  is  led  to  heaV  and  reflect  upon  things  unseen.  The 
Holy  Spirit  causes  *  verse,  or  a  word,  of  Scripture,  to 
arrest  his  attention— a >  whori '"  i^searchable  rkhes  of 
Christ  "  made  one  who  before  was  easy-minded  start 
with  surprise,  and  begin'tb  inquire  whaUin  Christ  was 


HID  TREASURE,  3 

"  unsearchable/'  A.  ray  has  shone  in.  A  ufw  idea  is 
shot  into  his  soul,  drawing  the  man  to  think  of  God,* 
from  whom  it  came.  Or  perhaps  it  is  a  providential 
event  that  arouses  him — some  friend's  death,  or  some 
sadden  St  nvifiirawa;  a  neighbour.      Or  else  a 

long-forgolten  truth  rises  to  view  on  a  sick-bed  ;  as  when 
Lady  Glenorchy  began  to  recall  the  truth — " Mori* 
chief  end  is  U>  glorify  Grod  and  to  enjoy  Bod  for  err,." 
This  is  the  plough  hitting  on  the  stone,  t hat  disc'- 
a  glimpse,  of  the  Treasure.  Or  it  may  be  like  Luk<- 
Short,  of- whom  Mr,  flave]  tolls  as.  The  old  man  *a 
sitting  lolling  intke  sun,  musing  over  his  youth,  when 
rmoa  and  a  blessing,  uttered  eighty  years  ago,  flash 
--I!  hie  soul,  and  he  saw  all  things  in  a  new  light. 

Here  surely  the  man  has  got  a  new  thought,  and  it 
may  turn  on i  a  treasure.  There  is  another  worid; 
glimpses  of  it,  and  glimpses  of  blessedness  to  be  attain 
ed  from  thence,  have  been  obtained.  Still,  the  man 
says  little  about  it  to  any.  He  "hide.-"  tbe  treasure, 
afraid  of  being  laughed- at,  and  perhaps  laughed  out  of 
it,  and  scarcely  yet  quite  sure  himself  if  nil  tnis 
reality. 

VJ.  T/w  Hid  Treasure  is.  Qhrist  //><-  Saviour. — lie  is 
little  biowo  to  tii^-orld.  little  thought  upon,  .seen  by 
few,  and  so  is  spoken  of  as  "  hid  in  a  field*"  But  though 
hidden  in  this  sense,  the  field  wherein  he  is  hid  is  nojfc 
far  off:  you  are  walking  over  it  daily.  Unclasp  thai 
Bible,  open  ir  out,  read  its  pages — and  in  So  doing  you  • 
are  almost  touching  the  Treasure.  Gro  to  the  house  of 
GocT.  listen  to  a  minister  who  tells  of  Christ,  understand 
what  he  says — and  you  are  almost  touching  the  Treasure. 
"The  word  is  nigh  the%,  the  word  of  faith  which    we 


t  HID  TREASURE. 

&om.  x.  8).     it  is  yery  nigh ;  but  you  may 
nawarfe  of  its  presence.     You  may  be  treating  the 
el  a:  a  child  often  does  a   nut — -playing  with   the 
'/and  never  breaking  into  the  savoury  kernel, 
But  Christ,  to  them  who  knew  Him?  is  truly  trmmre, 
He  is  God-man  m  Hit  person— really  God  and  really 
man  in 'one  person  ;  and  lienor  all  fulness  dwells  in  Him". 
There  is  an  infinite  treasure  there  of  'norfuetion— -  what- 
ever in  God  is  glorious,  whatever  is  generous,  whatever 
is  gracious,  and  whatever  in  man  is  Suitable  for  pounrg. 
.out  affection,  as  well  as  fit  for  exhibiting  holy  obedience. 
And  this  wondrous  Person  obeyed   the  law    which  we 
disobeyed,    and    gave  His    meritorious    suffering   unto 
death,  to  pay  our  last  mite  of  punishment      la  He  net. 
then,  a  Treasure?     Here  are  the  riofees  a  soul  needs  in 
lealings  with  God.4     Here  is  merit  for  you,   here  ig 
ransom-money,  here  is  righteousriC 

If  a  true  friend  is  truly  a  treasure^  Christ  is  so  to  all 
who  know  Him.  Jonathan  was  a  treasure  to  David — a 
friend  ready  for  fellowship^  with  a  bosom  open  to  receive 
David's  cares,  joys,  anxieties,  thoughts,  hopes,  fears, 
wishes,  affection.  Such  is  Christ.  Pour  into  'Hie  ear 
el  cry  sorrow,  care,  fear,  as  well  as  every  joy,  and-  all 
your  soul's  affections.  Your  hear  tip!  meet  with  sym- 
pathy there.  He  listens,  and  is  never  weary ;  He  speaks 
a  word  in  season  to  you  when  weary ;  He  careth  for  your 
every  care;  He  fhinieth  on  you;  He  fools  to  the  very 

soul. 

H:  ;  >  op'cn  cut  ail  His  Tr  q%wrc.     We  know 

ijfc  oat  in  jjart.      He  gites  His  own  hereafter  a  crown  of 
■  life,  a  crown  of 'rights  ;i  crown  of  glory,  a  palm 


HID  TREASURE^ 

of  victor y,  a  white  robe,  a  golden  harp,  hidden  manna,  a* 
white  stone  whereon  is  written  a  new  name  ;  and  He 
places  them 'in  the  glory  of  His  kingdom,  close  to  Him- 
self. At  His  coming  agahi,  He  gives  them  a  glos 
resurreetiou-body,  which  never  shall  feel  weakness,  of 
pairij  or' weariness  ;  and  He  snews  them  all  the  endless 
magniliccnce  of  fifew  Jerusalem  and  His  kingdom,  telling 
them  that  all  is  tJieirs,  for  they  arc  Christ's — joint-heirs 
with  Christ,  the  heir  of  .all  things  !  And  to  sum. up  oil. 
they  shall  be  "like  Him,  "in  the  image  of  God,  perfect- 
ly and  for  ever  holy. 

What  treasure!      Amdit  is  lying  roadyfbr yoa*— riri 
ing  your  coming  to  find  it : 

3.   Tkk  ing  the  field  repre* 

the  awakened    •  parting  with  all,  that  he  mat/  win 

Christ. — In  the  parable  you    may  suppose  the  an  a 

loverer  of  the  treasure  in  the  field  plannin 
and  day  how  to  purchase  the  field,  and  make  it  his  own 
personal  property.     Where  is  ho  to  get  money  enough  ? 
He  inquires,  and  finds  the  price  such  that  he#can  meet 
it  only  by  parting  with  all  his  present  goods  and  chev 
— ho  must  sell  his  furniture,  and  even  his  clothes.     If 
he  does  this,  then  he  may  make  out  the  purchase-money. 
Now,  he  is  loayflto   do  this — it   is  difficult   for  him 
make  up  his  mrW  to  part  with  that  article,  which  is  a 
fatnily.-piece,  and  that  otheY,  which  is  a  gift  from  a  dear 
friend.     But,  though  many  difficulties  occur,  the  joyful 
hope   of  being  enriched    by  that   treasure  prevails-— he 
parts    with    everything  he  ha:-:  thai}  he  may  raise  the 
purchase-money:  and   the  field   with  all   its   imbue 

U  his  own  !     And  now,  in  the  $ttiet  of  evening, 
he* repairs  to  the  fk-kl  and  surveys  his   immense   gara 


6  .  HID  TREASURE. 

Whether  his  farm  yield  much  or  little,  is  to  him  now  a 
small  matter — he  has  other  riches — helms  better  treasure .' 
-  It  is  thus  with  the  anxious  soul  that  has  got  a  glimpse 
of  something  better  than  earth,  and  would  fain  possess 
it.  The  hoped-for  joy  therein  is  ever  flitting  before  his 
eye;  but  there  are  hindrances  in  his  way.  The  natural 
love  of  this  world's  objects  suggests  a  caution,  "Will 
you  really  renounce 'this  world  as  your  portion  ?"  The 
love  of  self,  too,  hinders  the  man  from,  listening  to  tin- 
proposal  to  give  up  all  he  has,  and  buy  the 'field.  He 
has  regard  for  his  own  fancied  righteousness,  strict 
walk,  regularity  of  conduct,  decency,  morality.  He 
suspects,  too,  that  he  must  not  only  part  with  all  he  has, 
but  that  he  must,  in  addition,  obtain  something  valuable, 
sueh  as  deep  feeling  of  love,  and  bitter  sense  of  past 
folly.  :tinl  ^tt-ou;;-  hatred  tf-fftft-; 

But  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  in  sueh  a  east',  continues, 
to  Hash  across  the  man's  mind  the  joy  which  would  be 
found  in  the  actual- possession  of  this  treasure.  And 
further,  ^e  fixes  his  attention  more  specially  than  be- 
fore on  the  simple  terms  by  which  he  may  obtain  all. 
These  terms  are — parting  with  all  you  have.  Nothing 
beyond  this.  Whatever  is  yours,  give -it:  up;  account  it 
no  more  any  part  of  your  real  treasiutffc| Present  your- 
self  in  after  poverty  at  Christ's  feet,  auono  !  the  treasure 
is  yours  !  Present  yourself  before  Him  srript.of  what- 
ever y  cm  bef<  d  in.  ^.d  H^  itofljed-iateljl  gives 
you  Himself  ! . 

The  hand  of  a  believing  sinner  drops,  all  it  had  before 
in  order  to  make  room  for  all  that  is  .in  Christ.  The 
treasure  is  for  the  poor — for  sinners  who  have  nothing— 
for  souls  who  sell  off  all — for    such    as  part  with  what 


II  ID  IREASUftfc.  7 

they  had,  and  cast  it  away  as  dross,  that  they  may  win 
Christ. 

Who  would  not  envy  the  blessedness  of  this  soul  now  ! 
He  finds  himself  possessed  of  righteousness  and  merit, 
Dfoiafr rigfc h» miriness  and  Divine  merit.  Christ's  right- 
eousness and  Christ's:  merit.  He  finds  himself  rich  in 
the  favour  of  God,  and  entitled  to  count  as  his  own 
every  grace  which  the  Holy  Spirit  has  to  give.  He 
discovers  himself  to  be  heir  of  all  things,  in  due  time 
(Rev.  xx.  7).  by  being  joint-heir  with  Christ.  And  all 
this  the  first  moment  he  consented  to  be  poor  as  to  any- 
thing of  his  own  ! 

Aged  friends,  however  long  you  have  lived  without 
this  treasure,  yet  now  it  is  within  your  reach.  You 
have  heard  of  it:  you  have  heard,  too,  that  it  is  got  by 
the  poor)  and gnT  iTt  suelfa  way  % 

you.  Had  anything,  such  as  strong  and  lively  feeling, 
or  vigorous  exertion,  been  required  previously  to  your 
making  it  yours,  you  might  have  shaken  your  head,  and 
said,  "It  is  not  for  me  at  my  time  of  life."  But  you 
are  asked  to  part  with  all  that  is  yours*  The  terms  are 
of  this  strangely  simple  sort ;  it  is  not  some  enormous 
amount  of  giving*  of  doing  that  is  required,'  but  it  is 
a  parting  with  wjiat  you  have.     The  older  you  are,  you 


have  the  more  l^art  with — the  more  sins,  the  more 
prejudices,  the  more  old  ideas;  but  let  these  go;  for 
believe  The  Lord's- word — "  My  in  ire  not  j 

thoughts,  neither  are  your  ways    ray    ways,    jaitb 
Lord"     ( Isaiah  lv.  $). 


* 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH  8.5 


